Classic City has its own Twilight star

An Athens woman took first place in the women's race of Saturday's Twilight Criterium, the second year in a row a member of Atlanta- and Athens-based Aaron's Pro Cycling Team held the top spot.

Rebecca Larson finished first with a time of 55:32.1, edging out Catherine Cheatley of the Cheerwine Pro Cycling Team by 1/10th of a second. Jennifer Wilson of Vanderkitten Racing took third with a time of 55:33.9.

"It's something amazing to be able to win in front of your hometown crowd," said Larson, who moved to Athens in August to pursue a Ph.D. in exercise physiology at the University of Georgia.

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VIDEO: Watch video from the races and listen as bicyclists talk about what

it's like to compete in the Athens Twilight Criterium:

In the men's race, Los Angeles' Rahsaan Bahati of Rock Racing won with a time of 1:39:19.5, followed by Sebastian Haedo of Colavita-Sutter Home's team at 1:39:19.6. Kenneth Hanson with California Giant took third.

A short shower in mid-afternoon threatened the fun of the 29th criterium, but streets were dry long before the marquee women's and men's races, which drew an estimated 40,000 to downtown Athens.